Looking Ahead!

In Psalm 122:1, we read:  "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord."  In Exodus 20:8, we see:  "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."  In Hebrews 10:23-25, we see:
     "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)
      And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
      Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Today is Friday, and this coming Sunday, January 6, will be the first Sunday of the New Year!  As we enter this New Year, I want to remember that the Lord's Day is a holy day -- a day set aside for rest and worship.  On the Lord's Day, I need to be with God's people -- I need to dig deeper and climb higher as  my pastor preaches from God's Holy Word!

I need to be blessed and encouraged by the testimonies, and the prayers of the saints!  After the stress and frustrations of the work week, how sweet it is to join in singing the wonderful hymns of the church!  And I would certainly hate to be missing when God's presence comes and fills the sanctuary with His glory!!

So --- let us be found in the house of the Lord this very first Sunday of 2019, and every Sunday thereafter, unless providentially hindered.  Praise the Lord!  I just feel like singing -- "Come and go with me to my Father's house!  There is Joy!  Joy!  Joy!" 

Psalm 1

The Book of Psalms is a wonderful book, filled with Prayer and Praise! As we begin this New Year, I thought it would be good to look at the very 1st Psalm.  This little Psalm has only six verses,  and seems to be an introduction to the entire book.  It could be called the "Psalm of the two Ways."  Let us notice the verses --

     "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
      But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.
      And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
     The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
     Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
     For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

In these few verses, we see a definite contrast between the godly and the ungodly.  I am not a theologian, but the first verse challenges me to consider that if I want to be blessed in 2019, I must not Walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or Stand with the sinners, or Sit with the scornful.

Simply put, whether I am Walking, Standing, or Sitting, I must delight and meditate in the law of the Lord!  If we will do this, the last verse of this Psalm tells us that whatsoever we do shall prosper!  What a wonderful promise!    By way of contrast, the last three verses show the way of the ungodly who shall perish.

Dear Heavenly Father, as we stand in the beginning hours of a New Year, may we determine to "....be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" and "endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."

New Year's Eve!

When I think of the ending of the year, it brings to mind an old song -- "Day is dying in the West."  I suppose everyone has their own way of how they want to observe New Year's Eve, or how they want to look back over the year, recalling different events, milestones, joys, sorrows, etc.  But I think I just want to lay all of 2018 at the feet of Jesus and say with the Apostle Paul:

     ". . .this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."   If you make New Year's Resolutions, I can't think of a better one!  Praise the Lord!  What a wonderful challenge for 2019!

Then, I think I would like to sing with the songwriter --

     "Lead on, O King Eternal, till sin's fierce war shall cease,
And holiness shall whisper the sweet amen of peace.
      Thy cross is lifted o'er us; we journey in its light --
The crown awaits the conquest; Lead on, O God of might."

And then I think I would like to read this quote from Oswald Chambers, and think, meditate and act upon its challenges. 
     "There is only one relationship that really matters, and that is your personal relationship to your personal Redeemer and Lord.  If you maintain that at all costs, letting everything else go, God will fulfill His purpose through your life.  One individual life may be of priceless value to God's purposes, and yours may be that life."  What a challenge for us to walk humbly with our God!

Then we can greet 2019 singing -- "I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today!"

The 23rd Psalm!

As 2018 draws to a close, and we face the unknown tomorrows of 2019, perhaps we should slowly read and meditate on the wonderful assurance to be found in the six verses of this sweet Psalm of David! 

     "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

       He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.

       He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

       Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me: Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.

       Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil: my cup runneth over.

       Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."

 

Our Lord is the "Good Shepherd" on whom we can depend, so in the coming days if you find your heart is troubled, remember ---

        you can find quiet, peace, and calm when you open up your Bible and read this blessed Psalm! 

Christmas Eve!

On this beautiful Christmas Eve morning, as my mind travels to the manger in Bethlehem, my heart is filled with awe, praise and worship, and makes me want to sing with the songwriter:
     "Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Sing this Christmas morn --
Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Christ the Lord is born!"

And while I am bowing at the manger, I want to try and contemplate a little of the amazing wonder of the angel's words to Joseph:
     "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."  What a glorious mystery!!

And then, as we think of "The Wonder of it All", let us be thankful that this Baby in the manger was God's son, the promised Saviour, and may we humbly sing, "Lord,  I want your Presence for Christmas"!

From my home to yours -- Best Wishes for a blessed and holy Christmas as we once again celebrate the birth of our wonderful Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
  

Joy To The World!

In Luke 2:10, we read:  "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."
As we joyfully anticipate Christmas Sunday, it seems we must sing from the depths of our soul --Joy to the World -- Jesus has come!!
This hymn, by Isaac Watts,  is one of the most joyous of all the Christmas hymns.  It is interesting to note that it omits references to shepherds, angelic choruses, wise men, etc.  Instead, it emphasizes the wonderful joy that Christ's birth brought to mankind.  The entire Advent season should be filled with rejoicing as we contemplate anew God's great gift!

"Joy to the World" reminds us of these words in the 98th Psalm:  "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth; make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.  Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together before the Lord: for He cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall He judge the world, and the people with equity."

Kenneth Osbeck tells us:  "The text was originally titled, 'The Messiah's Coming and Kingdom', when it first appeared in Watts' hymnal of 1719.  The music for this carol is thought to have been adapted by Lowell Mason, an American church musician, from some of the phrases used in parts of George Frederick Handel's beloved oratorio, 'The Messiah', first performed in 1742.  Through the combined talents of an English literary genius of the 18th century, a German-born musical giant from the same period, and a 19th century American choir director and educator, another great hymn was born!

     "Joy to the world!  The Lord is come!  Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing!
      Joy to the world!  The Saviour reigns!  Let men their songs employ --
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains, repeat the sounding joy!

      No more let sin and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found!
      He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove --
The glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love."

Thank you, Jesus, that because You came, we can have "Joy unspeakable, and full of glory"!! 

           


  

THE MESSIAH!

I can't imagine Christmas without music, nor can I imagine any words or music more thrilling and inspiring than Handel's Messiah!  It humbles me greatly to understand how, over 200 years ago, God wrote this masterpiece through His servant, George Frederick Handel, and today it is still blessing thousands of hearts every Christmas!
I have posted this the last two Christmases, but I must do it again.  I trust that your heart will be humbled and blessed as you read this condensed story of the Messiah -- the King of Glory!

     "George Frederick Handel was struggling against creditors and hunger in 1741.  People were too poor and too cold to interest themselves in music that winter.  He paced the floor, wondering why musicians and composers had to struggle so hard to make a living.  Suddenly there was a crash -- then silence.  Handel's servant heard the strange crash and ran upstairs.  There in the hall lay Handel, the genius, his mouth open and a vacant stare in his eyes.  When the Dr. arrived, he shook his head.  After his diagnosis, he turned to go.  The servant fearfully asked, 'Dr., is he going to die'?  A miracle might save his life, but his left side is paralyzed.
      Weeks wore on.  The great composer revived some, but was unable to use his left hand to play, and his mind seemed dull.  The Dr. advised a trip to the hot springs in France.  Handel went to France with a great desire to live and compose again.  He spent hours in the hot baths.  Within a few weeks, he had largely recovered his health.
      Back in London, Handel began to play again and to compose some.  Then hard times struck again.  The Spanish wars were raging.  His pension had been cut off.  People were hungry for bread.  Winter came on, and at times Handel had to pace the streets to keep warm and to evade his creditors.  Inspiration had left him.  He was despondent, and seemed to be losing his strength, his mind, his belief in God, and his desire to live.
      Oh God, why has all this come? he cried in despair.  He dragged himself to his study before retiring.  On his table was a large envelope.  He tore it open, and on the title page were the words--The Messiah.  Seeing that it was another oratorio, he tore the manuscript in half and threw it on the floor.  His last oratorios had not met with approval.  That night the heavy-hearted composer turned and tossed, unable to get the torn manuscript off his mind.  Should he get up and look at it?
      The first few words were -- 'Comfort ye, comfort ye my people'.  The words seemed to soothe him.  As he read on, he felt a strange fire surge through his frame.  Surely it was a message from the Lord directly to him!  The great musician was himself again!  God had spoken to his soul!  He heard and felt music again as never before!!  The words, Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  seemed to move every fiber of his body.  How they thrilled him!  Even the final words - Amen!  Amen!  Amen!  seemed to thrill him again, and he exclaimed--I cannot slight one word!  Every word must play its part.  He began to compose like a man obsessed.  He rarely left his room, and rarely touched his meals.  In only 24 days, he composed 260 pages -- an immense physical feat, and the world's greatest oratorio was finished.
      After finishing the Hallelujah Chorus, he said -- 'I did think I did see all heaven before me and the great God Himself.'  The Messiah met with overwhelming success wherever it was presented.  People wept for joy as they heard its moving music.  It seemed to breathe of a heavenly land.  On one occasion, the whole audience--including King George--stood to their feet as the Hallelujah Chorus was sung.  It was as if they were standing reverently in the presence of the Divine.
      Years later, on a Good Friday, George Frederick Handel attended a presentation of his Messiah (of which he said--it was written by Another, not me) and joined in singing the Hallelujah Chorus.  With the closing notes, he sank to the floor and was carried out.  He lingered only a short time before he went to join the heavenly choir to sing the Hallelujah Chorus around the throne of God!"